Compare towns
Orange vs Williston vs Concord vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Orange | Williston | Concord | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,145 |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
49.8±6.6 16% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Wells and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.9%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
27.1%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Concord and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$73,304±$9k 10% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$159,300±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153 8% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,111±$29Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 30% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,026Lowest 40% below VT |
$3,308 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±82.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.7%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.